Lightning strikes twice?!
I was up against Darren (D-Man) again, my co-host from the #FootyOnTop show. I robbed him earlier on in the season, when I trailed him by eight points, and then I got twelve points off my bench as one of my players in my XI did not start. We both had a few of the same players, so I needed to try something to edge him out, as he lies second in the table and is a very consistent performer in FPL. A few years ago I actually gave him the title 'Black Pep', due to his dominance in fantasy football over the years. As I had two free transfers, to try and oust Darren again, I brought in Riyad Mahrez as Sadio Mane was out injured. I had already broke the unofficial 'top 6' role to bring in Son, so I thought why not. Jamie Vardy was not in the form he was in earlier in the season, so I decided to sell him and bring back in Sergio Aguero. Bringing Aguero back in is something I should have done with my wildcard on Christmas Day, and man I still regret it. I gave my captaincy this week to Mo Salah.
Saturday started quite well as Leicester and Chelsea drew 2-2, Soyuncu and Vardy were in Darren's team. Neither of them produced, though Vardy did come close, so I was not trailing as much as I thought I would be before the 3pm games. So this week I got away with selling Vardy, we will see what happens over the next few weeks however. Later on; Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 2-1, and I got nothing from Jack Grealish. Sheffield United won 1-0 away at Crystal Palace, but neither of my defenders from the sides started. Martin Kelly and John Lundstram both were on the bench and so was Lys Mousset up top, I had hoped in that case neither of the defenders would come on, but Lundstram came on in the second half. At Anfield, Liverpool rode their luck in the first half, but somehow came out 4-0 winners against Southampton. This of course meant clean sheet points for Andy Robertson who we both had, but I also saw that Darren had not just brought in Salah for the injured Mane, but he had given him the captaincy too, 'piss off Darren man, damn!', he had cancelled me out. It was still obviously very pleasing that Salah helped himself to two goals. Newcastle and Norwich had a goalless draw, and this vexed me, as I had an inkling to put Grant Hanley in my xi, but I was not brazen enough to do it, 'and look!!'. The scant consolation here was that there was nothing from Miguel Almiron to properly aid Darren's cause.
Watford were beaten 3-2 at home by Everton, so Ben Foster never did the job I needed from him. But D-Man's keeper was Mat Ryan and Brighton also conceded 3 goals as they drew with West Ham. Lewis Dunk was unable to make a significant contribution for me, and I may have to transfer him out soon, as there are options slightly cheaper than him at £4.7m that might reap better rewards. In Saturday's late game, I thought Wolves might be able to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, but it was not to be and the game was a massive anti-climax as it finished goalless. So nothing from Adama Traore, as we both had him, and luckily there was only two points from Raul Jimenez for D. So Saturday ended with me trailing by five points, I had three men left to play and Darren had two, it was looking like it was going to come to the wire once again between us.
Sunday began well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not get on the scoresheet as Arsenal drew away at Burnley in another thrilling game...that finished 0-0, ('ha!'). D had sold Aguero for Auba, so this was a major requirement if I was to steal a victory. In the big contest of the gameweek, Spurs beat Manchester City 2-0. Spurs were lucky not be a few behind in the first half, but a second half sending off changed things. I almost had the perfect combination in the first half, as Mahrez played in Aguero, but Hugo Lloris turned his effort onto the post. Aguero also hit the side netting, with a chance he usually gobbles up, and would have got an assist for winning a penalty, but Ilkay Gundogan missed it. I mean the whole sequence was a flaming joke. VAR took four minutes to review the incident, as the walking liability that is Serge Aurier hacked down Kun, and how Mike Dean did not see that it was a foul straightaway is beyond me. Gundogan I believe has an 100% record from the spot for City, but the way he stands before taking a penalty, it is so bait what side he is going to put the ball, I just knew Lloris would save it. Lloris did however come off his line before the penalty was taken, and it should have be taken again, there even may have been encouchment too. An absolute farce to say the least! Spurs took the lead through new signing Steven Bergwijn, before Son Heung-Min scored the goal I desperately needed to pip Darren once again, this time by just three damn points. 'Sorry Bro' I messaged him, but it was nice for Son to kick the ball and not another player for once, 'thanks mate!'.
@DubulDee
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